Posts Tagged ‘Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters’

As FABTECH Canada returns in 2016, on March 22-24th, don’t miss an opportunity to discover new solutions to all of your metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing needs, as well as to learn about the latest industry developments and network with some of the best minds in the manufacturing industry.

FABTECH Canada is a premier event that brings Canadian buyers and sellers together to share knowledge and build relationships with key decision makers.

First launched in 1981 with 161 exhibitors, FABTECH continues to grow as a world class platform for the exhibition of the latest manufacturing technologies and innovations. Since their expansion into Canada in 2012, FABTECH has been instrumental in supporting Canadian fabricating, metal forming, welding, finishing, and associated industries.

Domestic and international competition is forcing Canadian businesses to develop new or improved products, increase productivity and expand sales in global markets. Financing for innovation or growth has always been a challenge for many companies in Canada. Both the federal and provincial governments provide their financial support through over $20 billion in various funding programs each year. Sourcing funding from both SR&ED tax credits and other direct government incentive programs can give companies the edge they need to take their business to the next level.

Our Regional Manager for Western Canada, Jaap Siekman, will be hosting the seminar together with Erik Kaas, the Innovation Advisor for the National Research Council of Canada (NRC-IRAP) Concierge Service. Together, they will cover a range of government grants and funding programs including the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit Program and the Agri-Innovation Program among others.

Sourcing funding from multiple government programs to meet business goals and continually invest in innovation is essential to securing a competitive advantage and accelerating the growth of your business.

CanExport is a new government funding program announced on January 5, 2016 that will provide $50 million over the next five years in direct funding to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support new export market development.

Through the CanExport program, companies can receive financial support of 50% up to $99,999 for export marketing activities. Eligible activities need to exceed the company’s core activities and focus on promoting international business development. These may include business travel costs, exhibitions at trade shows, market research, adaptation of marketing materials for new markets, and legal fees associated with a distribution/representation agreement.

In order to be eligible for funding through the CanExport program companies must have 1-250 full time employees and $200,000-$50 million in annual revenue declared in Canada. The CanExport program is open to companies in all sectors with the exception of agriculture and food processing, since companies in these industries are already eligible for export funding through the AgriMarketing program. Export activities to existing markets are not covered by the CanExport program, but still remain eligible for funding from the Export Market Access (EMA) program.

1. The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program dates back to as early as 1944, when companies could deduct 100% of eligible expenditures and a third of capital expenditures incurred for scientific research from their taxable income.

2. The Canadian government provides over $20 billion in the form of direct and indirect funding programs each year for increasing innovation and national competitiveness.

3. Canadian expenditure on industrial R&D, expressed as a share of GDP, is relatively low compared to other countries and is predominantly concentrated in several traditionally R&D-intensive industries, including aerospace, pharmaceuticals, information and communication technologies, oil and gas extraction, and scientific research and development services.

4. While several industries are at par with other countries in industrial R&D intensity, such as computer and communications equipment manufacturing, these industries constitute a smaller portion of the Canadian economy, thereby dragging down Canada’s overall industrial R&D intensity compared to other countries, such as the U.S.

6. Canada has the 12th highest rate of patents granted in the world and is responsible for 1.1% of patents filed in Europe, Japan, and the United States.

7. Ontario accounts for the largest share of R&D in the ICT sector. Aerospace R&D is concentrated in Quebec, R&D in the oil and gas industry is predominantly concentrated in Alberta, British Columbia, and Atlantic Canada, whereas the majority of pharmaceutical R&D is performed in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.

8. Canadian companies are increasingly combining indirect funding from SR&ED with direct government funding programs, such as grants and loans, for business growth, continuing innovation, and workforce development.

9. Compared to other countries, Canadian industrial R&D is more labour intensive and less capital intensive.

10. Canada has several globally significant clusters of R&D-intensive firms as measured by number of patents granted. There are almost as many patents produced in the GTA as in Vancouver and Montreal combined. Furthermore, the number of patents per capita is highest in Ottawa and Waterloo.